But I would like to suggest that one of the greatest acts of faith in the Bible is David lying down and going to sleep at night. He's under tremendous pressure and in Psalm 3: 5-6 he journals this: "I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side." Sometimes there is no greater act of faith than falling asleep. When our lives are filled with pressure and tension, it's faith in God's care that allows us to sleep. I often think of Jesus asleep on the boat in the middle of a huge storm. His disciples are fearfully awake and Jesus is peacefully asleep. What a picture of faith.

Dawson Trotman, the founder of the Navigators, would share four letters with those he was discipling: HWLW. It stood for His Word the Last Word. It was a reminder that before you go to sleep you should think about a verse in the Bible that God gave you that day. Trotman knew that the last dominant conscious thought in the human mind at the end of the day would inevitably simmer in the subconscious during sleep and help shape the attitude and personality of the heart. And he was right. If you want to hide God’s word in your heart, go to sleep while meditating on a verse of Scripture. It seeps into your subconscious mind and helps shape your soul. You’ll sleep better, and wake up the next morning more refreshed. Charles Spurgeon used to say that Bible verses make good pillows.

David expressed faith in God by being able to sleep through a stormy time in his life. In Psalm 4:8 he wrote, "I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."

So tonight, before you go to sleep, HWLW.

Good night and God bless,

Pastor Tim